“Do not contend with a man for no reason”: “Contend” means to dispute or quarrel. “Man” translates the Hebrew ʾadam and refers to anyone, not just a male. Note that New Revised Standard Version has revised “man” to “anyone.” “For no reason” translates an expression that was used in 1.17 to mean “in vain” or “for no purpose.” As used here the sense is similar, that is, “without a cause or reason.” Contemporary English Version says it well in idiomatic English: “Don’t argue just to be arguing.”

“When he has done you no harm”: This clause restricts arguing to cases in which harm has resulted. In some languages it will be more natural to begin with this clause and say, for example, “If someone has done you no harm, do not argue with them. There is no cause to argue.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “Don’t argue needlessly with someone who has done you no harm.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .